Hurricane Irma Children's Relief Fund

Save the Children arrived at The Legends Center shelter in northwest Jacksonville, Fla. on September 12, 2017. Two families, with six children under age 8 and under, and as young as two months, were in the shelter. Save the Children distributed pack and play cribs, baby wash basins, infant hygiene supplies, and activity books, coloring books, markers and crayons to the children affected.

Sarah Thompson, Director of Preparedness, Save the Children U.S. Programs colors with 2-year-old Eliyah at The Legends Center shelter in Jacksonville, Fla. on September 12, 2017.

Photo by: Sara Neumann.

Save the Children Response Efforts Begin in Florida, Helping Children and Families Most Affected by Hurricane Irma

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (September 13, 2017) — Hurricane Irma, the largest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic, has resulted in massive devastation across Florida. According to the Department of Energy, roughly 4.4 million customers remain without power across the state. While most schools are striving to reopen next week, schools in Brevard, Hardee, Hendry, Lake and Monroe counties are closed until further notice. Save the Children knows, from nearly 100 years of experience, that children are always among the most vulnerable during disaster.

Save the Children’s emergency response team is on the ground in Florida working in Jacksonville and Orlando providing immediate support for children and families most affected by the storm. The humanitarian organization will distribute Community Emergency Grants to help local, child-serving organizations and programs recover from Hurricane Irma and resume normal operations. Save the Children program leads are on the ground working with community partners to identify needs. The Community Emergency Grants are intended to cover expenses related to Hurricane Irma and to help programs and organizations get back to serving children as soon as possible.

“Hurricane Irma put more than four million children at risk in Florida alone,” said Jeanne-Aimée De Marrais, Save the Children’s Senior Director of U.S. Emergencies. “As we assess the damage and determine how we can have the greatest impact, we hope that Community Emergency Grants will enable local organizations that work with children to get back to the important job of making sure children are learning, protected and safe.”

In addition, Save the Children continues its large-scale response efforts in Texas following Hurricane Harvey. Programs in Texas continue to support families and children in shelters while also working with the most affected communities to begin the long process of rebuilding.

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share. Learn more at www.SavetheChildren.org.

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